Fluorescein Angiographic Findings and Recurrence of Human Leukocyte Antigen-B27-Associated Anterior Uveitis

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the associations of fluorescein angiographic findings with recurrence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27-associated anterior uveitis.Methods: Medical records of 56 eyes of 56 patients with first-onset, treatment-naive HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis who performed fluorescein angiography was analyzed. We recorded the fluorescein angiographic findings of optic disc and peripheral vascular leakage and anterior chamber inflammation at the first visit. The 1-year recurrences and times to the first recurrences and the associations between them were investigated.Results: Fluorescein angiography revealed optic disc leakage in 23 patients (41.1%) and peripheral vascular leakage in 36 (64.3%). We found no significant association between the anterior chamber inflammation grade and either optic disc (p = 0.841) or peripheral vascular (p = 0.775) leakage. The 1-year recurrence rate in the optic disc leakage-positive group was significantly higher than in the leakage-negative group (14 patients, 60.9% vs. 11 patients, 33.3%) (p = 0.041), but peripheral vascular leakage status did not significantly affect the recurrence rate (19 leakage-positive patients, 52.8% vs. 8 leakage-negative patients, 40.0%) (p = 0.602). The time to first recurrence was not significantly associated with age (p = 0.772), anterior chamber inflammation (p = 0.841), optic disc leakage (p = 0.108), or systemic corticosteroid use (p = 0.321).Conclusions: We sought correlations between angiographic leakage in patients with HLA-B27-associated anterior uveitis, and the 1-year recurrence rate and the time to first recurrence. Careful follow-up for at least 1 year after initial diagnosis is essential to monitor possible recurrence in patients with optic disc leakage.